DeSantis Proposes “Historic” Pay Increases
Governor Ron DeSantis proposed sweeping pay increases for Florida Highway Patrol troopers and other state law enforcement officers during an appearance at FHP Troop D Headquarters in Orlando.
The $400 million in new funding includes $73 million to increase the minimum pay for entry level sworn state law enforcement officers by 20% and to increase veteran officers salaries by 25%.
DeSantis also wants to provide $5,000 signing bonuses for every recruit who is new to the law enforcement profession in Florida as well as offering the state officer certification exam free of charge to officers relocating to Florida and covering the cost of any necessary equivalency training for relocating officers up to $1,000 per officer.
“While other states have turned their backs on law enforcement, even calling to ‘defund the police,’ in Florida we continue to support the men and women in law enforcement,” DeSantis said. “I am proud to propose larger and longer-lasting measure to help our state recruit and retain the best law enforcement officers in the nation and to provide $1,000 bonuses for first responders and law enforcement officers for the second year in a row.”